Mechanic-electro coupling overlapping finite element method for piezoelectric structures

The mechanic-electro coupling overlapping finite element method (OFEM) is proposed to improve the accuracy in solving the mechanical characteristics of piezoelectric structures. Based on the basic equations and boundary conditions of piezoelectric materials, overlapping triangle elements are used to discretize the solution domain of piezoelectric structures, and the displacement function and potential function of the mechanic-electro coupling OFEM are constructed through local interpolation. The control equation of the mechanic-electro coupling OFEM is derived using the variation principle. The accuracy and validity of this method are verified by comparing with the reference solution and analytical solution in patch test and piezoelectric patch bending test. The static characteristics of the cantilever-typed piezoelectric sensor model, the rectangular plate with one-sided piezoelectric patch configuration, and the hole-containing piezoelectric energy harvester model are analyzed. The mechanic-electro coupling OFEM has high engineering value and broad application prospects in analyzing the structural mechanical properties of intelligent piezoelectric components.